This would not actually end the IRS, though it would significantly reduce it in size. Somebody would have to root through all those postcards, and they would still need all the information to verify whether the information within was accurate.
The problems begin with exceptions, many of which are legitimate. Say a woman earns $100k, but she has 12 children and extensive medical bills. Thus her gross is high, but her net is small.
Compare her to a retired couple who earn $100k from a home business, but own their own home, have minimal medical expenses, so whose net is maybe 4/5ths of their gross.
Doesn’t matter. It isn’t the job of government to equalize lives. It is their sole responsibility to fund the government. Anything else is over the line.
Flat tax for everyone.
If one couple saves, invests wisely, and lives within their means, good for them. Maybe the other woman needed to look at whether she could afford 12 kids before she asks for tax relief.
Everyone from pauper to millionaire should pay the same percentage.
Eliminate deductions entirely and there’s no problem.
I don’t understand why you should get a tax break for having kids, unless your goal is socially engineer higher birthrates. Having kids is a lifestyle _choice_ - should I get a tax break because I chose to buy an expensive car that gets 10MPG?